---
title: "John 1 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/john/1/
description: "The divinity and incarnation of Christ. John bears witness of him. He begins to… John 1 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# John 1

John 1 is chapter 1 of 21 in the Gospel of John. Here are all 51 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> The divinity and incarnation of Christ. John bears witness of him. He begins to call his disciples.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## John 1 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.
2. He was with God in the beginning.
3. All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him.
4. Life was in Him, and Life was the light of men.
5. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6. There was a man sent by God, whose name was John.
7. He arrived as a witness to offer testimony about the Light, so that all would believe through him.
8. He was not the Light, but he was to offer testimony about the Light.
9. The true Light, which illuminates every man, was coming into this world.
10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him.
11. He went to his own, and his own did not accept him.
12. Yet whoever did accept him, those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the sons of God.
13. These are born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14. And the Word became flesh, and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, glory like that of an only-begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15. John offers testimony about him, and he cries out, saying: “This is the one about whom I said: ‘He who is to come after me, has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16. And from his fullness, we all have received, even grace for grace.
17. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18. No one ever saw God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he himself has described him.
19. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, “Who are you?”
20. And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: “I am not the Christ.”
21. And they questioned him: “Then what are you? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22. Therefore, they said to him: “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23. He said, “I am a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24. And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees.
25. And they questioned him and said to him, “Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?”
26. John answered them by saying: “I baptize with water. But in your midst stands one, whom you do not know.
27. The same is he who is to come after me, who has been placed ahead of me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen.”
28. These things happened in Bethania, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29. On the next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and so he said: “Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold, he who takes away the sin of the world.
30. This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me arrives a man, who has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.’
31. And I did not know him. Yet it is for this reason that I come baptizing with water: so that he may be made manifest in Israel.”
32. And John offered testimony, saying: “For I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove; and he remained upon him.
33. And I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me: ‘He over whom you will see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
34. And I saw, and I gave testimony: that this one is the Son of God.”
35. The next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples.
36. And catching sight of Jesus walking, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
37. And two disciples were listening to him speaking. And they followed Jesus.
38. Then Jesus, turning around and seeing them following him, said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi (which means in translation, Teacher), where do you live?”
39. He said to them, “Come and see.” They went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour.
40. And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard about him from John and had followed him.
41. First, he found his brother Simon, and he said to him, “We have found the Messiah,” (which is translated as the Christ).
42. And he led him to Jesus. And Jesus, gazing at him, said: “You are Simon, son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas,” (which is translated as Peter).
43. On the next day, he wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
44. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
46. And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and he said about him, “Behold, an Israelite in whom truly there is no deceit.”
48. Nathanael said to him, “From where do you know me?” Jesus responded and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49. Nathanael answered him and said: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.”
50. Jesus responded and said to him: “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, you believe. Greater things than these, you will see.”
51. And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.”

## John 1 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum.
2. Hoc erat in principio apud Deum.
3. Omnia per ipsum facta sunt: et sine ipso factum est nihil, quod factum est.
4. In ipso vita erat, et vita erat lux hominum:
5. et lux in tenebris lucet, et tenebræ eam non comprehenderunt.
6. Fuit homo missus a Deo, cui nomen erat Joannes.
7. Hic venit in testimonium ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine, ut omnes crederent per illum.
8. Non erat ille lux, sed ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine.
9. Erat lux vera, quæ illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum.
10. In mundo erat, et mundus per ipsum factus est, et mundus eum non cognovit.
11. In propria venit, et sui eum non receperunt.
12. Quotquot autem receperunt eum, dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri, his qui credunt in nomine ejus:
13. qui non ex sanguinibus, neque ex voluntate carnis, neque ex voluntate viri, sed ex Deo nati sunt.
14. Et Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis: et vidimus gloriam ejus, gloriam quasi unigeniti a Patre plenum gratiæ et veritatis.
15. Joannes testimonium perhibet de ipso, et clamat dicens: Hic erat quem dixi: Qui post me venturus est, ante me factus est: quia prior me erat.
16. Et de plenitudine ejus nos omnes accepimus, et gratiam pro gratia:
17. quia lex per Moysen data est, gratia et veritas per Jesum Christum facta est.
18. Deum nemo vidit umquam: unigenitus Filius, qui est in sinu Patris, ipse enarravit.
19. Et hoc est testimonium Joannis, quando miserunt Judæi ab Jerosolymis sacerdotes et Levitas ad eum ut interrogarent eum: Tu quis es?
20. Et confessus est, et non negavit, et confessus est: Quia non sum ego Christus.
21. Et interrogaverunt eum: Quid ergo? Elias es tu? Et dixit: Non sum. Propheta es tu? Et respondit: Non.
22. Dixerunt ergo ei: Quis es ut responsum demus his qui miserunt nos? quid dicis de teipso?
23. Ait: Ego vox clamantis in deserto: Dirigite viam Domini, sicut dixit Isaias propheta.
24. Et qui missi fuerant, erant ex pharisæis.
25. Et interrogaverunt eum, et dixerunt ei: Quid ergo baptizas, si tu non es Christus, neque Elias, neque propheta?
26. Respondit eis Joannes, dicens: Ego baptizo in aqua: medius autem vestrum stetit, quem vos nescitis.
27. Ipse est qui post me venturus est, qui ante me factus est: cujus ego non sum dignus ut solvam ejus corrigiam calceamenti.
28. Hæc in Bethania facta sunt trans Jordanem, ubi erat Joannes baptizans.
29. Altera die vidit Joannes Jesum venientem ad se, et ait: Ecce agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccatum mundi.
30. Hic est de quo dixi: Post me venit vir qui ante me factus est: quia prior me erat:
31. et ego nesciebam eum, sed ut manifestetur in Israël, propterea veni ego in aqua baptizans.
32. Et testimonium perhibuit Joannes, dicens: Quia vidi Spiritum descendentem quasi columbam de cælo, et mansit super eum.
33. Et ego nesciebam eum: sed qui misit me baptizare in aqua, ille mihi dixit: Super quem videris Spiritum descendentem, et manentem super eum, hic est qui baptizat in Spiritu Sancto.
34. Et ego vidi: et testimonium perhibui quia hic est Filius Dei.
35. Altera die iterum stabat Joannes, et ex discipulis ejus duo.
36. Et respiciens Jesum ambulantem, dicit: Ecce agnus Dei.
37. Et audierunt eum duo discipuli loquentem, et secuti sunt Jesum.
38. Conversus autem Jesus, et videns eos sequentes se, dicit eis: Quid quæritis? Qui dixerunt ei: Rabbi (quod dicitur interpretatum Magister), ubi habitas?
39. Dicit eis: Venite et videte. Venerunt, et viderunt ubi maneret, et apud eum manserunt die illo: hora autem erat quasi decima.
40. Erat autem Andreas, frater Simonis Petri, unus ex duobus qui audierant a Joanne, et secuti fuerant eum.
41. Invenit hic primum fratrem suum Simonem, et dicit ei: Invenimus Messiam (quod est interpretatum Christus).
42. Et adduxit eum ad Jesum. Intuitus autem eum Jesus, dixit: Tu es Simon, filius Jona; tu vocaberis Cephas, quod interpretatur Petrus.
43. In crastinum voluit exire in Galilæam, et invenit Philippum. Et dicit ei Jesus: Sequere me.
44. Erat autem Philippus a Bethsaida, civitate Andreæ et Petri.
45. Invenit Philippus Nathanaël, et dicit ei: Quem scripsit Moyses in lege, et prophetæ, invenimus Jesum filium Joseph a Nazareth.
46. Et dixit ei Nathanaël: A Nazareth potest aliquid boni esse? Dicit ei Philippus: Veni et vide.
47. Vidit Jesus Nathanaël venientem ad se, et dicit de eo: Ecce vere Israëlita, in quo dolus non est.
48. Dicit ei Nathanaël: Unde me nosti? Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei: Priusquam te Philippus vocavit, cum esses sub ficu, vidi te.
49. Respondit ei Nathanaël, et ait: Rabbi, tu es Filius Dei, tu es rex Israël.
50. Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei: Quia dixi tibi: Vidi te sub ficu, credis; majus his videbis.
51. Et dicit ei: Amen, amen dico vobis, videbitis cælum apertum, et angelos Dei ascendentes, et descendentes supra Filium hominis.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- CCC ¶ 102: Christ - The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 241: The Father ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 291: The Creator ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 425: I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2780: Abba - "Father!" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 29: The Desire for God ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 268: The Almighty ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 54: The Stages of Revelation ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 612: Jesus Died Crucified ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 717: The Spirit of Christ in the Fullness of Time ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 719: The Spirit of Christ in the Fullness of Time ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 827: The Church Is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1216: What is This Sacrament Called? ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2147: The Name of the Lord is Holy ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 530: The Mysteries of Christ's Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 526: The Mysteries of Christ's Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1692: Life in Christ ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1996: Grace ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 496: "Conceived By the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 505: "Conceived By the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 423: I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 445: The Only Son of God ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 461: The Son of God Became Man ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2466: Living in the Truth ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 705: God's Spirit and Word in the Time of the Promises ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 504: "Conceived By the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2787: "Our" Father ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 151: "I Know Whom I Have Believed" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 473: The Son of God Became Man ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 575: Jesus and Israel ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 408: The Fall ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 523: The Mysteries of Christ's Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 536: The Mysteries of Christ's Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 608: Jesus Died Crucified ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 613: Jesus Died Crucified ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1505: Its Foundations in the Economy of Salvation ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1137: Who Celebrates? ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 438: Christ ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 713: God's Spirit and Word in the Time of the Promises ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1286: Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## The saints

- “The Word of Christ made out of nothing what was not; can it not change the things that are into what they were not?” — St. Ambrose, On the Mysteries, 9, c. 390 (On this theme: verse 3)
- “The Word of God became what we are, that He might make us what He Himself is.” — St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, III.19.1, c. 180 (On this theme: verse 14)
- “He became man that we might become divine.” — St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation, 54, c. 318 (On this theme: verse 14)
- “Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it.” — St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I q.1 a.8, c. 1265 (On this theme: verse 16)
- “Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold, he who takes away the sin of the world.” — St. John the Baptist, John 1:29 (CPDV), c. 30 (On this theme: verse 29)

## Read at Mass (US)

- Sun, Dec 13, 2026: Third Sunday of Advent — Gospel, John 1:6-8, 19-28
- Fri, Dec 25, 2026: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) — Gospel, John 1:1-18
- Thu, Dec 31, 2026: The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas — Alleluia, John 1:14a, 12a; Gospel, John 1:1-18
- Sat, Jan 2, 2027: Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church — Gospel, John 1:19-28

12 more dates through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option).

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).